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5 Ways to have a laid-back first date

By: Diamond Buckley

First dates are pretty anxiety inducing. What if this is the date that you actually meet the love of your life? You don’t want to potentially chase away your future husband/wife/etc. by being too awkward or seeming uninteresting. We’ve been there and we’ve done that, so we’ve created a list to help you get through a first date without stress.

Acknowledge the elephant in the room

This doesn’t work for everyone, but sometimes it helps to just straight up point out how nervous you are. “Hey I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty nervous. I’m just excited to go out with you”. Maybe the other person is feeling the same way. It helps to know someone else is in the same boat as you, and you’re not just being a nervous weirdo. Nine times out of ten, they’re just as anxious as you; and doing this, is almost a sure way to release some of the tension.

2. Booze it up

Don’t get belligerently drunk on a first date, that’s usually never a good idea. A drink or two will help loosen you up, though. If your date likes to drink, play bartender. Order them your favorite drink, or drink combination and see if they like it. It’s a way to learn a little bit more about their taste and good way to break the ice.

3. Gather clues from what they wear or bring with them

The easiest way to break the ice in literally any situation, is with a compliment. It has to be natural, though, forced compliments are always so obvious. A good way to naturally get in a compliment is to take clues from their appearance. If they’re wearing a band tee you can say, “I really like your shirt, what band is that?” This is a great way to find out about bands they like, and their music taste.

4. Two words. Karaoke Bar

Karaoke bars are great for a first date because they’re full of drunk people singing. They’re not obnoxious enough to where you still can’t get in a good conversation, but they’re perfect for when the conversation grows dull. Can’t figure out anything to talk about? Hey, look at that drunk girl singing “I will survive” entirely off key. There’s no way you can have a first date at a karaoke bar and not have a good time.

5. Share your food

As stupid as it sounds, this is a great way to break some of the tension. Order an appetizer or a meal you both like and can eat together, like nachos or chicken. It helps the date seem more laid back and eliminates the anxiety of not wanting to order too much or too little.